Looking for a decent cheap AA

Hi i'm new to the led torch scene and i have been looking for a decent AA budget torch i have seen this on ebay and want to know what you guys think and if it is a good deal. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220513030926&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3341wt_1157 Thanks Charles

Looks like the Akoray too me.....so it should do.....if its anything like the akoray then i hear its bright on 14500.

You also might want to check this out....may take 2 weeks to get too you since there based in Hong Kong but for the price it would be worth it since shipping is free. It uses and Osram Golden Dragon led for a much smoother beam.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.24220

Is that the same as the one i showed you but an own brand version or am i missing something ?

Since its made in china im sure that its a copy of the Akoray......the one that i linked too uses a Osram Golden Dragon....different beam pattern then the Cree Q5, its a much smoother beam without all the rings of a Cree.

The direct equivalent is: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16607 The light output claim is wildly exaggerated - as is the price IMO. It cost US$19 (Or half the price of the Ultrafire branded one) including postage from DealExtreme - which will take 2-5 weeks. China will shortly close for Chinese New Year and it usually takes a week or two after for things to get back to normal. Personally, I prefer the Uniquefire one which is a single mode light. Both are fearsomely bright on 14500 cells, less bright on NiMH cells and usually about the same brightness but with shorter runtimes on alkaline batteries.

Hi thanks for the heads up, you mentioned using a 14500 battery but these are more than double the voltage of an AA cell so won't this damage the led ?

Also i've seen these batteries with the words "PROTECTED" on them what does this mean? why would you want to protect the battery surely the touch wont short itself..

The reason you want to use protected cells especially when it comes to using flashlights is that not all lights have a low voltage cutoff built into the circuit. When the battery reaches a certain voltage the over discharge circuit of the battery will kick in, and the only way to reset that circuit is if you put it back on the charger. I like going this route because i dont carry my DMM with me everywhere i go. Usually if you buy a light make sure that you read the spec's to make sure that you can go this route because if you use a 14500 cell in a light thats not compatible then poof.

Aah rite i get you now thanks

Let us know which light you plan on getting.......as i would like to know.

As long as the light is designed for it there'll be no problem other than heat. AA lights have very limited mass to sink the heat into so can get hot - the worst offender i have is the Ultrafire C3 Q5 stainless steel which will burn my hands after less than 5 minutes on high with a 14500 cell. I will usually check that the light will take lithium cells before I buy it as I enjoy the crazy brightness.

Lithium cells have their issues - never, ever try to take one apart unless you want to find out what hydrogen fluoride smells like (Trust me, you don't as it'll eat your face) and how hard it is to extinguish burning lithium metal. If a lithium cell is over discharged it can go boom the next time you try to charge it. If you manage to charge one past 4.3V you are also about to find out about burning lithium and hydrogen fluoride.

The protected cells have a circuit to prevent the cell from being discharged too far and to prevent their being overcharged. I usually charge my lithium cells to 4.1-4.15V which makes them last more charge/discharge cycles.

The only cell I've had blow on me was by deliberate abuse involving feeding it 12V and lots of amps while outdoors and at a safe distance.

Lights that are designed for them can be way brighter on 14500 cells. Here are the total light output figures for the uniquefire S10 single mode light i just reviewed.

Uniquefire S10

Alkaline 609 lux
NiMH 714
14500 1175
As you can see it is producing nearly twice as much light from a 14500 than it is from an alkaline. That particular light does get pretty warm when run continually with a 14500 but won't set your hands on fire.

I'm thinking of the one that you suggested as it has the osram led which are very good leds.

Here's a review of the Osram LED Light. http://www.jayki.com/6073#16

Thanks for the advice Don, you mentioned you only charge your 14500 cells to 4.1-4.15v do you have a special charger that allows you to set a cut off voltage or are you just taking the batt out after a set period of time and checking it with a meter ?

Wow i like the numbers on that light.....might have to order one myself. So whats the link for the single mode and hows the build quality compared to Romisen lights. I use a wf139 and also a hxy 18650 charger......both do well and stop at 4.12-4.15 but when it comes to lith one needs to make it a habit of using a dmm to check the voltage when it comes off the charger. When the light turns green its best to take the cell off and check the voltage of the cell.

I'm using a charger designed for the radio controlled model crowd. It defaults to 4.1V for lithium ion cells but I tend to run a voltmeter over the cells while charging to see where the voltage actually is. A set time approach would work if the cells were always discharged to the same level. Mine aren't. I also use an Ultrafire WF-139 which seems to go to about 4.1-4.15V which suits me just fine. It is never a good idea to leave lithium cells in the charger unattended though I have fallen asleep more than once. Remove them from the charger when the light goes green is the best bet. And don't keep them fully charged unless you are about to use them - it does shorten their life. It is best to store lithium cells at about 3.6V.

I also have a charger thats capable of charging the lith chemistry but if you were to see my charging station there is not enough room to put that sucker on there. Hey Don what about that link to the light that you recommended for the OP.

oops - thought I had.

DealExtreme links

Akoray K-106 Review (not mine) here

Uniquefire AA-S1 Review here

Uniquefire S10 single mode. Review here

I'd say that all of these are good choices - my personal favourite is the Uniquefire AA-S1

How do you get these 14500 cells to 4 volts i can only find them in 3.6v variety.